Fat cells have both alpha-2 receptors and beta-2 receptors. How do these matter in your quest to lose weight? You might be surprised how important it is to know the difference!

First, a reminder that fat cells are the storage systems in our body for fat reservoirs. This is how our body keeps us safe in case a famine happens along.

So along the outer edge of that fat cell are a variety of receptors. They help control how the fat cell is utilized. Two key ones that control fat burning are the alpha-2 and beta-2 receptor. The alpha-2 receptors encourage the cell to hold onto fat. The beta-2 receptors encourage the cell to release the fat. So clearly we want to get those beta-2 receptors firing!

In both men and women, the fat cells of the abdomen area tend to have sensitive beta-2 receptors while the hips / thigh tend to have "stubborn" beta-2 receptors. Your body naturally wants to burn off the belly more quickly than the hips and thighs, for body safety reasons.

In addition to that, though, women also have more alpha-2 receptors on the cells in their hips and thighs. Again, biology wants to protect a woman's fertility. It wants to make sure the necessary fat in this area is protected. Good for women who want to be pregnant - not so good for the rest of us.

These are all good basics to understand in your quest to lose weight. Understanding how different types of fat in your body operate brings you one step closer to knowing how to efficiently burn it.

So the question becomes: How do you trigger those beta-2 receptors?

Activating Beta-2 Receptors and Fat Burning







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